Recently a little-known fact has come up in conversations everywhere: at the beach, at the gym, in the local coffee shop.
Did you know that for the last three years, Meta has blocked people in Canada from seeing news on Facebook and Instagram?
It’s a pretty wild fact. But even more troubling is that most people are unaware this change ever happened. People *think* they’re still seeing news on social platforms, but what they’re actually seeing are memes and posts from influencers and advocacy groups — not factual, unbiased journalism.
Indeed, a year after Meta blocked news in retaliation to federal legislation, a survey found three-quarters of Canadians were unaware that news could no longer be shared on Facebook and Instagram.
It’s extremely troubling that it is easier for many people to find misinformation than it is for them to find the information they need to make good decisions for themselves, their communities and our environment.
When you stop to think about it, you have engaged in a pretty revolutionary act, just by subscribing to this newsletter. You are proactively shaping the news you consume, wrenching control from the tech giants back into your own hands.
It’s discerning people like you who — through thick and thin — have ensured The Narwhal keeps thriving, even as newsrooms across the country shut their doors and lay off journalists.
